THE RECORDING CONTRACT (PART 1)
Excerpts From "The Rhythm Rap Method"

THIS COLLECTION OF PAPERWORK CAN EASILY BECOME THE WORST PIECE OF PAPER
THAT YOU EVER COME INTO CONTACT WITH, WITHIN YOUR LIFETIME. TO THE POINT THAT YOU'D WISH
THAT THE TREE THAT WAS USED TO MAKE THIS PIECE OF PAPER HAD BEEN BURNED DOWN INSTEAD.

NOW THERE ARE TWO PERSPECTIVES TO THIS CONTRACT:

1. THE COMPANY’S PERSPECTIVE

IT IS THEIR OBJECTIVE TO DOG YOU IN EVERY SHAPE, FORM AND FASHION

FOR THAT REASON IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOU HAVE AN ENTERTAINMENT ATTORNEY
OR EXPERIENCED MANAGER BY YOUR SIDE.

NOT A REAL ESTATE LAWYER, OR AN ACCIDENT LAWYER, NOR A FRIEND WHO IS STUDYING LAW.
BUT A LEGALLY QUALIFIED PERSON WHO WHICH IS SKILLED AND COMPETENT TO CARRY OUT THE TASK AT HAND. AS SUCH, THIS PERSON CAN GO OVER THE CONTRACT AND DECIPHER IT AND CLEARLY EXPLAIN EVERYTHING
THAT IT STATES. NOT WHAT YOU MAY THINK THAT IT STATES.

NOW IN MOST CONTRACTS THEY WILL OFFER YOU WHAT IS SOMETIMES CALLED A SIGNING BONUS
OR UPFRONT MONEY OR SOME OTHER FUNNY NAME. REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY SAY IT IS
IT IS AN ADVANCE THAT THEY WILL RECOUP FROM THE SALES OF YOUR SONG MATERIALS.

THUS, YOU MUST USE THIS MONEY WISELY.

NOW, IF YOU GO GOLD OR PLATINUM, ALL WILL BE FINE, BUT IF YOU DON’T SELL WELL
THERE MAY BE SOME PROBLEMS WITHIN YOUR IMMEDIATE FUTURE. THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE
OF SOME OF THE TRICKS THAT MAY BE HIDDEN WITHIN YOUR CONTRACT.
UNDERSTANDING THAT EACH CONTRACT CAN AND MAY DIFFER IN WHAT IT STATES
IN REGARDS TO WHAT THEY MAY BE OFFERING AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM YOU.
ONCE AGAIN, THIS IS WHY YOU MUST BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND
EACH AND EVERY TERM THAT IS STATED WITHIN THE CONTRACT.

2. YOUR PERSPECTIVE

OF THE MANY THINGS THAT YOU MAY WANT TO BARGAIN FOR WITHIN YOUR CONTRACT,
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS, IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE, YOUR PUBLISHING RIGHTS.
THE PUBLISHER OWNS THE PERFORMANCE RIGHTS TO THE SONGS. WHAT IS A PERFORMANCE RIGHT ?
EXAMPLE: WHEN THE SONG IS PLAYED ON RADIO, TV, ETC., THE SONG WRITER RECEIVES PENNIES,
BUT THE PUBLISHER RECEIVES DOLLARS. ALSO, IF SOMEONE WANTS TO SAMPLE YOUR SONG IN THE FUTURE THEY WILL CONTACT AND PAY THE PUBLISHER AND NOT THE WRITER.
ANOTHER GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF OWNING THE PUBLISHING IS THE SITUATION
THAT OCCURRED IN REGARDS TO THE BEATLES SONGS, MICHAEL JACKSON AND SONY RECORDS.
( I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU RESEARCH THIS ISSUE IF YOU ARE NOT CLEAR ABOUT WHAT TOOK PLACE )
SO DO YOUR BEST TO GET A SHARE OF YOUR PUBLISHING.

REMEMBER, WHO OWNS THE PUBLISHING, OWNS THE SONG.

NOW, WHEN YOU ARE OFFERED A RECORDING CONTRACT, YOU WOULD BE BEST ADVISED
TO NOT LOOK TO DESPERATE TO SIGN AND DEFINITELY DO NOT EVER LET THEM SEE YOU SWEAT.
WITHIN REASON TRY TO HOLD OUT FOR A DEAL THAT BEST SUITS YOU. HOWEVER, AT THE SAME TIME
BE REALISTIC IN WHAT YOU ARE ASKING FOR. DO NOT MAKE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE CONTRACT BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU ARE HUNGRY, THE RENT MIGHT BE LATE, THE PHONE & LIGHT BILLS MIGHT BE OVER DUE
AND THE BABY MIGHT NEED SOME PAMPERS, WHAT YOU HAVE GOT TO DO IS GO INTO THIS CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH YOUR HEAD ON STRAIGHT, KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT IS ON THE TABLE.

UNDERSTANDING THAT AS A NEW ARTIST YOU DO NOT HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF BARGAINING POWER, BUT WHAT LITTLE THAT YOU DO HAVE, YOU MUST USE IT TO THE FULLEST.
KEEPING IN MIND THAT BY THE MERE FACT THAT THEY ARE OFFERING YOU A DEAL SIGNIFIES
THAT YOU HAVE A PRODUCT THAT THEY DEEM AS WORTHWHILE THE FINANCES IT WOULD TAKE
TO GET IT OUT TO THE MASSES. TRANSLATION : THAT THEY CAN GET PAID WITH.

REMEMBER, THEY DON’T OFFER DEALS BECAUSE THEY LIKE YOU, OR BECAUSE YOU HAVE PRETTY EYES
OR A NICE SHAPE, BUT BECAUSE THEY FEEL THAT THEY CAN GET PAID.

HOWEVER, WITH THIS INFO ON HAND, YOU MUST STILL FIND A WAY TO REMAIN HUMBLE
IN ALL OF YOUR DEALINGS WITH THE LABEL.

MORE TO COME

JATHOM RECORDS & THE JATHOM FAMILY DISTRIBUTION GROUP
GIVING YOU SOMETHING TO HOLD ON TO
CAUSE WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH

BACK TO MUSIC 101